Elias Katz

Elias Katz ( born June 22, 1901 in Turku, † December 24, 1947 near Gaza ) was a Finnish athlete.

Katz took part in Paris at the Olympic Games in 1924. In the 3,000-meter steeplechase he won the silver medal behind fellow countryman Ville Ritola. Four days later, he won the 3000 -meter run in fifth -placed team with the First Paavo Nurmi and Ville Ritola the Second gold medal. In the summary there were in each case the highest ranked three of a nation; an individual rating did not exist.

Katz won several Finnish Champion and 1926 involved with his Finnish club Turun Urheiluliitto from Turku also two world records for club seasons over 4x1500 meters in the cast Frej Liewendahl, Elias Katz, Niilo Koivunalho and Paavo Nurmi. From 1925, he started occasionally for Bar Kochba Berlin, at that time the largest Jewish sports club. In 1927 he went to prepare for the 1928 Olympic Games back to Finland, but due to injury he missed the qualification. As a result, he launched until 1933 for Bar Kochba Berlin.

1933 Katz emigrated to Palestine. He was a member of the coaching staff, the Israeli athletes should prepare to participate in the 1948 Olympic Games. Israel took but then it was in 1952 for the first time in the Olympic Games in part. This first part in the Olympics Israel did not live Katz; He died Christmas 1947 in a British army camp near Gaza. He worked there as a projectionist and was shot after leaving the cinema in the street by Arab terrorists.

1981 was recorded Elias Katz in the international Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.